As I understand it, there is only one flying Companion, and only one Bearhawk 4-Place Model B with under 200hp. My answer would be I don't think we have enough data points, or at least I don't, to rigorously compare a light 360-powered 4-place and the Companion. I have plenty of 360-powered Bearhawk time but none in a 360-powered plane with model B mods. I have a few hours of Companion and Patrol time but no good testing with either, such as airspeed calibration and CG range validation. The things one typically does in a good Phase 1 program are very educational but I haven't had the opportunity to be educated on them yet for the Patrol or Companion. Once we have half a dozen of each airplane to compare, maybe we could have a more productive discussion about their differences.
In-the-weeds apples to apples comparisons about weight and handling are hard because there aren't any apples versions of each. Individual build preferences are too variable from one airframe to the next. There were some distinct handling nuances in the Companion that I got to fly, but it would be too early to say if those were airframe-specific or design-specific.
All planes designed by Bob that I've been able to fly are delightful, rugged machines. At this stage, select the cabin configuration you like the best, keep the engine choice in the recommended range, build as light as you can, and you'll have a good airplane that is 97% as good as any other Bearhawk. Whether it's a few percent better than the others, we'll have to see.
In-the-weeds apples to apples comparisons about weight and handling are hard because there aren't any apples versions of each. Individual build preferences are too variable from one airframe to the next. There were some distinct handling nuances in the Companion that I got to fly, but it would be too early to say if those were airframe-specific or design-specific.
All planes designed by Bob that I've been able to fly are delightful, rugged machines. At this stage, select the cabin configuration you like the best, keep the engine choice in the recommended range, build as light as you can, and you'll have a good airplane that is 97% as good as any other Bearhawk. Whether it's a few percent better than the others, we'll have to see.
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